Noninvasive Imaging Diagnostics for Endometriosis

Marcela Caetano Vilela Lauar, Cinthia Callegari Barbisan, Silvia Leite, Marina Paula Andres, Dra. Marina Paula Andres, Maurício Simões Abrão, Mauricio Simões Abrão
Seminars in reproductive medicine · 2025 · vol. 43(03) , pp. 189–201 · doi:10.1055/s-0045-1813023 · PMID:41558498 · W7125265353
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07 ⓘ

This paper reviews noninvasive imaging techniques for diagnosing endometriosis, highlighting their value in mapping disease extent for improved surgical planning and patient management, given current diagnostic delays and limitations of laparoscopy.

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⚙ AI-generated deep summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-07 · read from full text ⓘ

This paper discusses current approaches to noninvasive imaging diagnostics for endometriosis, framing the clinical problem that diagnosis is frequently delayed despite videolaparoscopy being used as the gold standard, and noting that it does not reliably reflect disease extent. It emphasizes that once a presumptive diagnosis is made, comprehensive imaging (particularly ultrasound and MRI) can improve mapping of endometriosis to support surgical planning, triage to specialized centers, and patient counseling about risks and complications. A stated limitation is that accurate, noninvasive diagnostic tools have historically been lacking, and imaging is positioned primarily as a complement to presumptive diagnosis rather than a complete replacement for gold-standard assessment. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — focusing on how noninvasive ultrasound/MRI approaches can aid diagnosis and detailed disease mapping in endometriosis.

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Abstract

Endometriosis is a prevalent gynecological condition affecting approximately 10% of women of reproductive age and up to 50% of those with infertility. It is characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity. Despite its high prevalence, diagnosis is often delayed by up to 10 years from symptom onset, partly due to the historical lack of accurate, noninvasive diagnostic tools. Although major reproductive societies continue to define videolaparoscopy as the gold standard for diagnosing endometriosis, it does not reliably predict disease extent. Consequently, once a presumptive diagnosis is established, accurate and detailed imaging is invaluable for patient management. Comprehensive endometriosis mapping enhances surgical planning, facilitates appropriate triage to specialized centers for advanced disease, and improves patient counseling regarding potential complications and risks.
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Abstract

Endometriosis is a prevalent gynecological condition affecting approximately 10% of women of reproductive age and up to 50% of those with infertility. It is characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity. Despite its high prevalence, diagnosis is often delayed by up to 10 years from symptom onset, partly due to the historical lack of accurate, noninvasive diagnostic tools. Although major reproductive societies continue to define videolaparoscopy as the gold standard for diagnosing endometriosis, it does not reliably predict disease extent. Consequently, once a presumptive diagnosis is established, accurate and detailed imaging is invaluable for patient management. Comprehensive endometriosis mapping enhances surgical planning, facilitates appropriate triage to specialized centers for advanced disease, and improves patient counseling regarding potential complications and risks.

Keywords

endometriosis - diagnosis - noninvasive - imaging - magnetic resonance imaging - ultrasoundPublication History Article published online: 20 January 2026 © 2025. Thieme. All rights reserved. Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc. 333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USA -

References

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715endometriosisinfertility

MeSH descriptors

Diagnostic Imaging Diagnostic Imaging Diagnostic Imaging Diagnostic Imaging Diagnostic Imaging Diagnostic Imaging Diagnostic Imaging Diagnostic Imaging Diagnostic Imaging Diagnostic Imaging Diagnostic Imaging Diagnostic Imaging Diagnostic Imaging Diagnostic Imaging Diagnostic Imaging Diagnostic Imaging Diagnostic Imaging Diagnostic Imaging Diagnostic Imaging Diagnostic Imaging

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

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